Thanks, but no thanks was the Edgecomb Board of Selectmen’s response to a real estate deal offered by a local private school. The Deck House School offered to sell a .75 acre parcel to the town. The land includes a storage building called the“Red house,” a private road, and a right of way to waterfront property along the Sheepscot River.

In a letter, school officials proposed selling the property for $50,000. The selectmen briefly discussed the offer during their Oct. 26 meeting before deciding against pursuing the purchase. The selectmen authorized Chairman Jack Sarmanian to respond with the board’s decision declining the offer.

Selectman Mike Smith said the Deck House School’s offer was interesting, but now wasn’t the right time to consider it. The selectmen had concerns about several unanswered question pertaining to the sale. Those questions included who would maintain the private road and who would tear down the red house.

“I think they want a quick response which is something we can’t give them,” Smith said. “It’s potentially an opportunity lost. There are a handful of things that need an answer before I’m ready to say I’m interested.”

The town has searched for a public access boat launch site since the 1970s. The town established the Woodend Account to purchase land along either the Sheepscot or Damariscotta rivers if such a property became available. In April, the fund totaled over $188,000.

During the May town meeting, voters defeated a proposal to borrow $100,000 from the account, and transfer the monies into the depleted municipal surplus account.

Selectman Jessica Chubbuck believed the town should revisit the offer if it’s still available next spring.

“It’s a nice offer. This is something we may want to bring forward to the town next spring, but first, I think we need more information,” she said.

Sarmanian will draft a letter thanking Deck House School officials for the offer and expressing the town’s desire not to consider the proposal at this time.

The Deck House School is a private boys school located at 12 Deck House Road in Edgecomb. It is a college preparatory boarding school for 12 students age 14-19 “who benefit from a unique learning environment emphasizing participation within a community network,” according to the school’s website.

In other action, the board made two appointments to municipal committees. David Nutt received an appointment to the Schmid Land Preserve Advisory Board and Boothbay Harbor resident Bob McFetridge was named as the town’s deputy Emergency Management Agency director. Nutt was appointed to a three-year term.

McFetridge’s term ends next May. He will assist Director Bill Whitesell, who was appointed at the May town meeting. Whitesell receives a $1,000 stipend. McFetridge will not receive compensation.

Whitesell requested an assistant to provide coverage when he’s not in town. McFetridge has 15 years’ experience as a firefighter and spent five years as Boothbay Harbor’s EMA director. He recently joined the Edgecomb Volunteer Fire Department.

“I’m looking forward to it,” McFetridge said after being unanimously appointed. “I’m here to cover for Bill when he’s not available. I have the experience and there’s no sense wasting it.”

The selectmen also signed a one-year snowplowing contract with SR Griffin Construction of Edgecomb. The agreement was signed by Scott Griffin, who is the town’s road commissioner. The contract calls for an increased fee for maintaining the town’s roads from Nov. 1 to April 15. The town agreed to pay $245,000 in five installments beginning in November.

Last year, the town paid about $196,000, according to Sarmanian.

“We had a horrendous winter last year. At the town meeting, voters agreed to the increase,” Sarmanian said.

The selectmen will meet next at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9 in the municipal building.